The largest of all musical instruments [essay]

Title

Identifier

Music Appreciation Section

Language

English

Source

The Young Citizen : the magazine for young people 5 (11) November 1939

Year

1939

Subject

Organ (Musical instrument)

Musical instruments

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Abstract

The first piano was built by an Italian instrument maker named Bartolomeo Cristofori. The oldest piano in existence was built by Cristofori in 1720. But long, long before that
pipe organs were built. In a pipe organ there are hundreds sometimes even thousands-of pipes. In large organs some of the pipes are as large as the trunks of .full-grown trees;
these make the deep, heavy tones. Some pipes are smaller than a lead pencil; these make the higher tones. Not only is the pipe organ the largest of all musical instruments; but it is the most difficult instrument to play. Dr. Eliot, formerly the president of Harvard University, has been quoted as saying that the performer on a modern pipe organ does
more things at the same tune than are demanded by any other type of human activity.

Fulltext

THE YOUNG CITIZEN November, 1939 MUSIC APPRECIATION SECTION v THE LARGEST OF ALL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS T.HE first piano was built by an Italian instrument maker named Bartolomeo Cristofori. The oldest piano in existence was built by Cristofori in 1720. (See The Young Citizen for October, 1939, page 362.) But long, long before that pipe organs were built. The pipe organ is a very ancient instrument, although its mechanism, of course, has been vastly improved in "modern times. The organs of early days were very different from the organs of today. The first instrument of this type was the Pan's pipes of the ancient Greeks, which consisted of a set of pipes of different lengths bound together and made to sound by the player's breath. About two centuries before Christ a device was invented for forcing air into pipes by water power, and keys were added to open and close the pipes. This hydraulic (water) organ was common among the Greeks and Romans. Centuries later the bellows came into use, instead of water-power, to furnish air. An organ built in the 10th century for Winchester Cathedral in England had a bellows so powerful that 70 men were needed to pump it. In the organs of today the electric power that pumps the bellows is equal to 25 or even 40 horsepower; yet so improved is the mechanism of the keyboard that the touch of a finger is all that is re'quired to open the pipe-valve. · When you look at the keys of a pipe organ, you see only a very small part of the organ itself, for it is the largest of all ·musicaf instruments. Sometimes ahove the. keys of some organs you see rows of pipes that make the tones, but more often the organ is built as a part of the building in which it is placed, and some of the pipes, like the rest of the machinery, are hidden behind the walls. Often the pipes are placed at the sides of the auditorium, in the ceiling, or even in another room. In a pipe organ there are hundredssometimes even thousands-of pipes. In large organs some of the pipes are as large as the trunks of .full-grown trees; these make the deep, heavy tones. Some pipes are smaller than a lead pencil; these make the higher tones. The pipes are arranged in groups. Each group is controlled by a stop which is placed i.n reach of the organist. When he wishes to use any particular grotip, he opens the proper stop and thus connects it with the keyboard. The air which causes the pipes to sound is forced into them from an air chamber into which air has been pumped by a great bellows or in some cases by an electric.Jan. The pipe organ has several keyboards -two or three or four, sometimes even five. These keyboards. are called manuals because they are played by the hands. The several manuals make possible quick changes of power and tone quality. All modern pipe organs also have a pedal keyboard on which a skillful organist plays with as much dexterity, almost, with both feet as with his hands on the man.ual keyboard." The keys of the pedal kc;yboard are of wood and are very large because the organist has to play them with his feet. . November, 1939 THE YOUNG CITIZEN In order to provide· for still greater variation in power, some of the sets of pipes are enclosed in a practically soundproof chamber called the "swell-box." This room is provided with shutters ·that can be opened and closed at will. When the shutt.ers are closed, the tone is so soft that we can scarcely hear it. When the shutters a.re opened, we· can hear the tone at its full strength. · The manual keyboards, the pedal keyboard, the combination pedals, the stops, etc. are colkctivel y called ,the "console." The console is often at a considerable distance from the pipes that actuaay produce the tones. the organist has at his command, he is able to 'control a greater extent of range and power than any other musical performer. The playing of an organ compares with the possible performance of a symphony orchestra. Not only is the pipe organ the largest of all musica.I instruments·, but it is the most difficult instrument to play. Dr. Eliot, formerly the president of Harvard University, has been quoted as saying that the performer on a modern pipe organ does more things at the same tiine than are demanded by any other type of huma·n activity. REVIEW I. Tell about the first organ. 2. Look a t th e picture of the organ on this page. 3. Where is the console? 4. Where are the pipes? In modern pipe organs the greatest improvements are due to the use of elcctiicity. So mu.ch of the machinery of the pipe organ is now operated by electricity that the inside of the organ looks like a tele- The Atligl1ty Organ 5. Are there more pipes than the photograph shows? manual keyboards do phone exchange. By means of these electrical devices almost an infinite variety in power and quality is at the organist's command. The use of mechanical d.evices on the pipe organ is called "registration." By making full use of all the devices which 6. How many you see? 7. Where is the pedal keyboard? 8. Tell about the size of the pipes of a pipe organ. (Pleau turn to page 419.) November, 1939 SAVORY DISHES (Co11tin1ud from page 413) wash the fish. If they are sma11, it is better to wrap them in pieces of banana leaf. Place the fish wrapped in banana leaf in a clay or a porcela;n pot. Add a small amount of salt water -just enough to prevent the fish from burning and to have a few tablespoonfuls left after cooking. Cover the pot. Cook slowly from 15 to 20 minutes. Serve with calamansi. Camias or green tamarind may. be placed in the pot and boiled with the fish. This adds flavor and produces an acid taste to the fish. THE YOUNG CITIZEN GOOD YOUNG CITIZEN (Co11ti11ued from page +04) YOUNG CITlzEN Is ORDERLY. Amando does not take things which do not belong to him. He returns anything left on a desk. He does not copy the work of his neighbors in school. In examinatioris he does not cheat in order to secure high grades. A GooD YOUNG CmzEN Is HONEST. If Amando is asked a question, he always tells the truth. Sometimes it is hard to do this, but he will not lie. A GOOD YOUNG CITIZEN Is TRUTHF.UL. One day after the class Boiled Rice was dismissed, as Amando Get one cup of rice and was going home. he passed three-fourths of a cup of a tienda. He put his ·hand water. in his pocket to get some Wash the rice two times money; he thou_ght he with cold water. Drain and would buy so.me candy. But put in a pot. Add three- he said to himself, "Mothfourths of a cup of cold er has cooked a nice dinner water. Cover and bring to . for me. I will not eat a boil. When boiling, low- between· meals." So he er the fire and let it cook very slowly until the rice is .saved his money. A GOOD well cooked. From 10 to YOUNG CITiz.EN Is 12 minutes is required. It is better to cook the rice without washing it, because Vitamin B, minerals, proteins, and fat ·are washed away during the process of washing. THRIFTY. These are some of the things which a good young citizen does. Any boy or girl can do such things as these, and· be classed as a good young citizen. Try LARGEST INSTRUMENT (Contittued from page 407) 9. What can you say qf improvements _in modern pipe organs? 10. Is the pipe qrgan a d i ff i cu 1 t instrument to play?' Why? 11. What did Dr. Eliot say about a. performer on a pipe organ? 12. The playing of a pipe organ compares with the possible performance of what group of musicia,ns? 13. What use is made of electricity in a. modern pipe organ? 14. Tell how the pipes of an organ are arranged. Where may they be placed? 15. Have you heard a large pipe organ? 16. Have you seen one? 17. Would you like to learn to play a pipe organ? to be like Amando, Perhaps you can do even better. SO:V!ETHING TO 00 AND TO THINK ABOUT I. Make. a list of the statements in this article about a good young citizen. Memorize those statements. 2. What can you do io observe each of those statements? Think about what Amando 4id.

pages

406-407+

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